Kim Hyun-joong

Assault charges

In August 2014, Kim's girlfriend, identified only by her surname Choi, filed assault charges against Kim, claiming that he repeatedly beat her, causing bruises and broken ribs.^[1][2][3] Kim denied the charges, saying he had injured Choi only once and that it was an accident that occurred while he was practicing martial arts.^[4] Choi dropped some of the charges against Kim in September after he apologized to her.^[3] However, Kim was later fined 5 million KRW for injuring Choi, with prosecutors in the case saying, "While Kim claimed that he had no intention of hurting her, the damage from the attack was clear."^[4] This was later rescinded in 2016 when the Republic of Korea's army and civil courts acquitted Kim of these charges due to evidence that came to light. Text messages between Choi, her mother and friends, statements by the director of Dispatch (the tabloid to which Choi provided her evidence) and statements given by the hospitals visited by Choi led the prosecution to state that there was "little to no credibility behind the former girlfriend's allegations that she had to receive a six-week medical treatment for her fractured ribs".^[5][6] Hospital records also showed that she was not pregnant at the time she visited to get treatment for the injuries to her ribs.^[5]

On November 12, 2020, the Supreme Court of Korea ordered "A" to pay Kim Hyun Joong 100 million won (approximately $89,700) in damages, upholding the verdict from the first and second trials in which they stated, "There is no evidence that 'A' suffered a miscarriage due to abuse, or that he had pressured her to have an abortion. As a celebrity, Kim Hyun Joong's public image has suffered greatly and his reputation has been damaged."^[7]

Paternity case

In February 2015, a magazine reported that Kim and Choi had reunited and that Choi was pregnant. Kim stated via a press release that he had not seen Choi since she told him that she was pregnant in January, and could not confirm if he was the father since she had not been in touch.^[8] His agency indicated that he would take full responsibility if he was found to be the father of the child.^[9]

In December 2015, a paternity test revealed that Kim was the father of a baby that Choi had given birth to in September of that year.^[10][11]

Criminal case

In May 2015, Choi filed a lawsuit against Kim for 1.48 million USD for mental distress caused by her relationship with him, and claimed that his abuse had caused her to miscarry a previous pregnancy in 2014.^[12][10] Kim later filed and won a 100 million KRW counter-suit against Choi for defamation, with the court ruling that there was circumstantial evidence that she was not pregnant in 2014.^[13] Her lawsuit was dismissed, and she appealed the decision.^[14]

Prosecutors filed criminal charges against Kim's ex-girlfriend, Choi, for attempted fraud and defamation in January 2017.^[15] In February 2018, Choi was fined 5 million KRW for attempted fraud.^[16]

In November 2020, the 3rd Criminal Division of the Supreme Court (Judge Lee Dong-won, Chief Justice) confirmed a court trial that sentenced Choi to a fine of 5 million won on charges of attempted fraud and defamation by publication. Choi was found to have filed a civil lawsuit while knowing that her allegation that Kim had caused her damage, such as forced abortion, was false. In addition, she was also charged with falsifying evidence related to civil lawsuits, such as deleting some of the contents of KakaoTalk's conversation, and defaming Kim's reputation, including providing reporters with false evidence.^[17]

Drunk driving

In March 2017, Kim was charged with drunk driving after police found him asleep in his car at a traffic light in Seoul. His driver's license was suspended and he was eventually fined two million KRW.^[18][19]

1. "Kim Hyun-joong to Be Questioned Over Battery Accusation". The Chosun Ilbo. August 27, 2014. Archived from the original on July 31, 2018. Retrieved April 16, 2018.
2. Lim, Jeong Yeo (July 21, 2016). "Kim Hyun-joong to receive first verdict in August". The Jakarta Post. Archived from the original on April 17, 2018. Retrieved April 16, 2018.
3. "Kim Hyun-joong's ordeal continues". The K-Pop Herald. October 2, 2014. Archived from the original on April 17, 2018. Retrieved April 16, 2018.
4. Ock, Hyun-ju (January 20, 2015). "Kim Hyun-joong slapped with fine for assault". The K-Pop Herald. Archived from the original on April 17, 2018. Retrieved April 16, 2018.
5. Yugee (September 23, 2016). "Prosecution Issues Updates on Kim Hyun Joong vs. Former Girlfriend Legal Battle". Korea Portal. Archived from the original on September 6, 2019. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
6. "한류스타 김현중 '무고' '명예훼손'등도 무혐의". 뉴스타운 (in Korean). September 22, 2016. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
7. "김현중 승소 확정..."前여친, 김현중에 1억원 지급"". MK (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 13, 2020. Retrieved November 16, 2020 – via Naver News.
8. "Kim Hyun-joong denies marriage rumor, unsure about pregnancy". The K-Pop Herald. The Korea Herald. February 25, 2015. Archived from the original on July 4, 2018. Retrieved April 16, 2018.
9. "Kim Hyun-joong Denies Reuniting with 'Pregnant' Ex". The Chosun Ilbo. Archived from the original on October 23, 2023. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
10. "Paternity test shows Korean star Kim Hyun Joong is dad of three-month-old baby". The Straits Times. December 22, 2015. Retrieved April 16, 2018.
11. "Kim Hyun-joong confirmed as baby's father". Korea JoongAng Daily. December 22, 2015. Archived from the original on July 7, 2018. Retrieved July 7, 2018.
12. "Kim Hyun-joong reportedly being sued by ex-girlfriend for $1.48 million". The Korea Times US. May 4, 2015. Archived from the original on July 4, 2018. Retrieved April 16, 2018.
13. "Singer-actor Kim Hyun-joong wins compensation suit against ex-girlfriend". Yonhap News Agency. August 10, 2016. Archived from the original on October 14, 2016. Retrieved April 16, 2018.
14. Cite error: The named reference :15 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
15. "Ex-Girlfriend Charged in Bitter Feud with Kim Hyun-joong". The Chosun Ilbo. January 19, 2017. Archived from the original on April 8, 2018. Retrieved April 16, 2018.
16. 김현중 前여자친구, 1심서 벌금 500만원 선고. MK Sports (in Korean). February 8, 2018. Archived from the original on February 8, 2018. Retrieved April 16, 2018.
17. "[판결] '前 여친과 민·형사 공방' 김현중, 모두 승소 확정... "1억 배상" "벌금 500만원"". m.lawtimes.co.kr (in Korean). November 12, 2020. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
18. "Actor Kim Hyun-joong Caught Drunk Driving". The Chosun Ilbo. March 31, 2017. Retrieved April 16, 2018.
19. "Singer-actor Kim Hyun-joong indicted for alleged drunk driving". Yonhap News Agency. April 25, 2011. Archived from the original on April 17, 2018. Retrieved April 16, 2018.

폭행 및 상해 사건

2014년 8월 20일 김현중의 전 여자 친구는 김현중을 폭행치상 및 상해혐의로 경찰에 고소했다. 고소인은 2012년부터 김현중과 교제를 했고, 2014년 5월 말부터 7월 중순사이 김현중으로부터 총 네 차례에 걸쳐 폭행을 당해 갈비뼈가 골절되는 상해를 입었다고 주장했다. 이에 따라 김현중은 경찰조사를 받았다. 경찰조사에서 김현중은 약간의 몸싸움이 있었다는 사실은 인정하였지만, 상습 폭행 및 전치 6주에 해당하는 폭력은 인정하지 않았다. 하지만 이후 김현중은 입장을 바꾸어 사과문을 발표하여 폭행 혐의를 일부 인정했고, 전 여자 친구는 고소를 취하하였다. 그러나 고소인의 고소취하에도 불구하고 경찰은 상해혐의를 적용해 김현중을 검찰에 송치했다. 상해죄는 피해자가 처벌을 원하지 않더라도 처벌할 수 있는 범죄이기 때문이다.서울동부지검은 김현중을 상해와 폭행치상 혐의로 벌금 500만원에 약식 기소했다.이후 전 여자친구 최씨는 2014년 12월 중순 김현중의 아이를 임신해 2015년 2월 중순에 임신 10주차라고 여성잡지를 통해 주장했다. 2015년 4월 최씨가 임신으로 인한 정신적 스트레스를 이유로 16억원의 민사 손해배상청구를 했다. 이 소송으로 인해 작년 폭행 고소 취하시 합의금으로 6억원을 받은 사실이 드러났으며 이에 대응하여 김현중은 12억원의 반소를 청구했다. 김현중은 7월에 법원에서 사실조회신청을 통해 병원으로부터 받은 사실조회회신서를 증거로 작년 폭행사건에 대한 재조사와 임신에 대해 공갈, 소송사기미수, 무고, 명예훼손으로 형사 고소를 한 상태이다. 이에 대응하여 최씨는 8월에 김현중과 김현중의 변호사를 명예훼손과 무고로 형사고소를 했다가 며칠후 변호사에 대한 고소를 취하했다. 2015년 9월 전 여친이 출산을 했고 그 아이가 2015년 12월 21일 친자 확인 결과 김현중과 99.999% 일치한다는 결과가 나왔다.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]} 2016년 8월 10일 최씨가 김현중에게 요구한 16억 손해배상 청구를 전부 이유없다고 기각하고 최씨의 허위 임신, 유산, 폭행에 대한 언론 매체 인터뷰로 김현중의 명예를 훼손한 점이 불법행위로 인정되어 최씨는 김현중에게 손해배상금 1억을 배상하고 소송지연금을 전부 부담하라는 민사법원의 판결이 나왔다. 2016년 9월 22일 최씨가 김현중을 무고, 명예훼손으로 형사 고소한 것에 대해 군 검찰은 무혐의 처분을 내렸다. 갈비뼈 골절 6주 진단을 받으러 간 병원에서 헬스기구에 부딪혔다고 진술하였으며 상해 진단서 발급 요구를 거절하였기에 최씨의 주장이 신빙성이 낮다고 보았다. 2017년 1월 6일 김현중이 최씨를 사기미수와 명예훼손으로 형사 고소한 것에 대해 당초 검찰의 불기소 처분을 뒤집고 기소되었다. 검찰 수사를 통해 최씨가 주장하는 2014년 5월 폭행으로 인한 유산 및 2014년 12월 중절 강요 주장이 모두 임신 조차 아니었으며 문자 메시지 삭제 등으로 증거를 조작한 정황을 포착하였다고 발표했다. 최씨의 사기미수 및 명예훼손에 대한 공판은 2017년 3월 30일에 열렸다.^[7][8][9]

1. http://mbn.mk.co.kr/pages/news/newsView.php?category=mbn00007&news_seq_no=2708197
2. <<OBS>> 여자 친구 폭행혐의 김현중, 고소취하에도 검찰송치 왜?
3. 경찰, 김현중 기소의견 검찰 송치…폭행사건 마무리 단계
4. <<매일경제>> 경찰, `여자친구 폭행혐의` 김현중 기소의견 검찰 송치
5. <<조선일보>> 김현중, 상해 피해자 前여친과 재결합, '임신 10주' …"지난달 벌금형 약식기소돼"
6. <<연합뉴스>> 경찰, '여자친구 폭행' 김현중 기소의견 송치 2014-10-02
7. “군 검찰, 한류스타 김현중 무고,명예훼손 모두 무혐의”. 
8. “김현중 16억 소송 완승, 法 "김현중에게 1억원 지급하라"”. 
9. “김현중 전여친, 검찰에 증거 조작 덜미 잡혔다.”.